Thomas Ince, the son of former Man United and Liverpool captain Paul Ince, took a huge risk when he (prematurely) left Liverpool to join Blackpool in August 2011. For some reasons, youngster who leave Liverpool invariably disappear into obscurity, but the exciting winger has had a fantastic season at Blackpool, and he has no regrets about leaving Anfield.

Speaking to reporters ahead of yesterday's Championship play off final against West Ham, Ince - who scored in the game but couldn't stop from losing the game 2-1 - said:

"Not many people would have taken a step away from Liverpool like I did this season. I could have stayed at Liverpool for three or four more years but felt the time was right to play in the real world. Reserve team football is nothing on first team football and that’s what I needed. Blackpool have given me that opportunity — and I’m loving it".

Ince has 16 goals and assists in 29 starts for Blackpool this season, which is a great return for a 20 year old, and if not for a cruel late goal in yesterday's play-off final, the youngster could've been playing against Liverpool in the Premier League next season.

Ince undoubtedly made the right decision to leave; if he'd stayed at Anfield, I doubt he would've been given many first team opportunities, especially with mega-flop Stewart Downing undeservedly hogging the left-wing spot all season.

It took some guts to leave a massive club like Liverpool, but the gamble has paid off, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few Premier League teams will be casting a covetous eye his way this summer, perhaps even...Liverpool?

Ince's goal against West Ham yesterday:

Jaimie Kanwar

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Comments
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NORBET
said...

there's a few players that got Kenny the sack ....no need to mention names - the Yanks are ruthless , they don't do sentiment , they were awful for an hour against Chelsea - it was written all over John Henry's face ...he was not impressed ....also Kenny was looking every day of his years ; maybe ? it's all for the best ....well I hope so

Yeah just hope who ever comes in doesn't make the same mistake as kenny with the likes of sterling suso coady I believe at lest 2 out of the 3 are ready to make the leap if not given the chance they all probably head towards the exit doors

We could have saved quiet a bit of money if he had been given a chance. I think the owners are looking for a manager who will make use of some of the talent in reserve. Eccleston, Suso, Coady and Amoo need to be played in the first team squad to develop. I'm not saying all at once but they must get games or we may see more talent go to waste and picked up by other clubs, leaving us thinking if only..

shame ince never got a chance.have been impressed with him anytime i've seen him for blackpool,he has goals in him.hopefully sterling won't go the same way as him,he deserves a chance next season.am surprised that kenny never gave coady anytime either,he couldn't haver been worse than spearing than henderson were at times.

a lot of talented youth wait for a chance to join the first team. The problem you face as a manager is identifying the right players who are ready for the big jump. With our first team having difficulties finding the back of the net I would have thought that Kenny would have introduced a couple more youngsters into the the first team attack. The latter part of last season would have been a perfect time to set Raheem Sterling free to do what he does for the first team. Talented players like Sterling, Ince, Shelvy etc if they don't get enough first team experience will go where they can get more regular first team exposure. For a lot of these players first team foot-ball remains a measuring tool as to how good they really are.

We all (fans) were gutted by Downings performance all season, we would have loved to see Sterling more than Downing. He couldn't have done worse than Downing and would have got well deserved first team football.

When all was lost back in late february, early March, KD easily could have played more youngsters.

Jonjo ie should have played every game when Adam was on the agenda, a more wasteful player than Adam is hard to find.

And Downing didnt deserve to play in the reserves but got into starting 11 week in week out :(

his dad publicly blamed Rafa for not giving him a chance.Best young player at Blackpool is winger Matt Philipps who will join an EPL club this summer. Fergie is splashing 4m on Powell of Crewe so there are players to be had down there.I think 95% of youngsters who come through the academy dont make it so not surprised they go and most dont make it elsewhere as sometimes developing in the lower league is better as you are facing tougher opponents each week in front of a crowd too..

LFC has too many youngsters - next manager must weigh them up and sort them out - loads could go tomorrow - too many becomes unmanageable - we are always signing some wonder kid but in truth Ajax murdered us

Condolences to Tom Ince and Blackpool on not making the Premiership. They had the chances but, sadly, they blew it. At 20 years of age Tom Ince can only improve. He made a good decision in leaving LFC as the club still appear to have a policy of not playing young players who have come up through the ranks.

another ruthless article...just big headlines but nothing appealing!!! liverpool to blackpool is no tail forward mate...its backward...which means you are just happy to play with mediocre teams...you wont be able to stand the pressure at LFC...just like f.torres and many others...u were made for championship teams, so b happy,,, thats y ur happy...

JK u know what...downing can still cross the ball to any1 in the box...but if the receiver cannot score so how can he get an assist??? that means the goalscorer isnt good!!!well am not a great fan of shit players and downing is utter crap...and JK y dont u apply for the vacant managerial post!!???

I told so many people this was a mistake letting him slip away, huge potential and with his dad behind bound to stay focussed, we need a real careful pick for management and that has to be a man who loves flair play and was a world class player himself Frank Rikjaard fits the bill.

The fact that so many fans think that there is huge pool of untapped talent waiting in the reserves is hilarious and shows how deluded most fans are... Shelvey is a decent player at best and will never be world class... about the only player with potential to be world class is sterling.. most of the others will be decent squd players.. nothing more.. and that's why we will continue to be mid table crap...

Go for Rafael Benitez please,people would always give excuses like we want instant success yet the likes of Everton who have financial difficulties moving on and excelling. How can you say the kop wants instant success yet knowing that each game must be a success at Anfield.Be careful,forget about yourself at Anfield and think about the team.Whoever is against re-appointing Rafa as manager must rather support Chelsea.No manager would come to Anfield without a certain group of people criticizing him.

Most of his crosses this season have either not got past the first defender or just floated through the air with no pace on them, how is a center forward supposed to score with a ball that's so easy for a keeper to clear?

Hi all... we need to remember that Liverpool bought a lot of strikers which are scoring many goals but could not perform well in the team. We need to ask why it it a happened. When they left Liverpool, the start to score goals again accept Torres. When we bough striker... means we want him to score goals as his previous team.. It is important for manager to study his games. If you want him to follow your present system, he may take longer time to succeed or even not succeed. Andy Carroll will be an example..